cruse



March 31, 1964 1.. H. CRUSE 3,127,149

VALVED HOSE COUPLINGS Filed April 17, 1963 2 sheets -sheat l FlG.2

7 L INVEN' fOR. 4 I LEE H. cRgsE ATTORNEY L. H. CRUSE VALVED HOSE COUPLINGS March 31, 1964 2 sheetssfieet 2 Filed April 17, 1965 FIG. 7

FIG.6

FIG.5

INVENTOR.

LEE H. CRUSE FIG. IO

ATTORNEY United States Patent Office 3,127,149 VALVED HOSE COUPLINGS Lee H. Cruse, Springfield, Mo., assignor to Foster Manufacturing Cm, inc, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Filed Apr. 17, 1963, Ser. No. 273,753 Claims. (Cl. 251--149.9)

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in hose couplings and, more particularly, to a quick-action hose coupling for connecting high pressure air lines of the type usually associated with pneumatic systems.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a hose coupling of the type stated which is extremely simple in operation and can be easily manipulated to establish a quick, secure, leak-proof connection between two air lines.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a hose coupling of the type stated which includes manually operable valve means for controlling the flow of air under pressure through the coupling between two air lines interconnected thereby.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a hose coupling of the type stated which is simple and economical in construction consisting of a comparatively small number of component parts uniformly designed for simple, rapid assembly.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a hose coupling of the type stated Which includes valve means capable of being locked in open position so as to unauthorized, or accidental, disconnection of the hoseelement, or male coupler, engaged therein.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a hose coupling of the type stated having valve means incorporated therein for optionally permitting and preventing air flow through the coupling, which valve means is readily operable by axially shifting movement.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a hose coupling of the type stated which is compact and relatively short in length as compared with comparable hose couplings of conventional construction.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a hose coupling of the type stated which is rugged, durable, and will withstand hard use under the most adverse conditions.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention resides in the novel features of form, construction, arrangerhe'nt, and combination of parts presently described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings (two sheets):

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a hose coupling constructed in accordance along lines 5 5 and 6 6, respectively, of FIG. 1;

ilar to FIG. 6, except that the valve means is shown in unlocked position;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary elevational view of the hose 3,127,149 Patented Mar. 31, 1964 coupling in association with a male coupler about to be inserted therein;

FIG. 9 is an elevational view, partly broken away and in section, of the hose coupling and male coupler in coupled relationship; and

FIG. 10 is an elevational view of a modified form of hose coupling constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention.

Referring now in more detail and by reference characters to the drawings, which illustrate practical embodipling comprising a tubular body member or barrel 1 including a forward bore 2 and a rearward bore 3, separated by an integral imperforate partition or wall 4, the bores 2, 3, preferably being coaxial. At its forward end, that is to say, the left end, as shown in FIG. 2, the barrel 1 is rounded off and faired outwardly in the provision of a short bell-mouth 5. inwardly therefrom, the bore 2 is provided with a beveled face 6 and annular shoulder 7, the inner portion of which is defined by an annular seating groove 8 which retains a resilient O-ring 9. As may be seen by reference to FIG. 2, the groove 8 has an axial width equal to the diameter of the O-ring 9 but is shallower in depth than the diameter of the O-ring 9. Consequently, when the O-ring 9 is seated within the groove 8, it will project annularly inwardly beyond the innermost cylindrical surface of the diametrally reduced inner portion of the bore 2 for purposes presently more fully appearing.

In the region between the wall 4 and the O-ring 9, the barrel 1 is provided with a uniformly spaced series of radial apertures or ports ltl. Similarly, in the region which is located forwardly of the beveled face 6 the barrel 1 is provided with another series of uniformly spaced radial bores 11 which are of reduced diameter at their inner ends 12 for retaining steel balls 13. As may be internal ends thereof. Moreover, the diametral size of the balls 13 is substantially greater than the radial thickness of the barrel p tion in the region of said bores will move freely in a radial direction within the bores 11 and will project inwardly beyond the cylindrical surface of the bore 2.

On its outer face the forward portion of the barrel 1 is turned down slightly so that it is of somewhat smaller diametral size than the rearward portion thereof, and is sep arated from the rearward portion by an annular shoulder 14. At its forward end the body portion is provided with wardly and becomes one wall or a trepanned groove 20. Seated within the groove 20 and extending axially rearportion of the barrel 1 and abuts against the shoulder 14. It will be noted that the external diametral size of the washer 22 is slightly smaller than the interior diameter of the skirt 19 and, consequently, the washer 22 will act as a rear stop or abutment for the spring 21 but will not impede axial shifting movement 'of the sleeve 17. Intermediate the trepanned groove 20 and the forward clearance groove 18, the sleeve 17 is internally undercut in the provision of a clearance groove 23 having forward and rearward tapered surfaces 24, 25. The trepanned groove 20 is of such depth, and the spring 21 is of such size, that when the sleeve 17 is shifted rearwardly, the spring 21 will be compressed and entirely housed within the trepanned groove 2t), and the rearwardly presented inner face 26, which is the interior boundary of the trepanned groove 28, will abut in stop-forming manner against the washer 22. The groove 23 is so located that when the sleeve is axially shifted to, and manually held in, this rearwardmost position, the groove 23 will be in overlying registration with the balls 13, as a result of which the balls 13 are free to move radially outwardly until the interior portions of their surfaces are entirely clear of the interior cylindrical surface of the bore 2. On the other hand, when the sleeve 17 is released, it will be shifted forwardly by means of the spring 21, as shown in FIG. 2. In the course of this movement, the surface 25 of the groove 23 will cam the balls 13 inwardly and they will be held in this inward position by the interior surfaces of the sleeve 17, as shown in FIG. 2. The bore 3 is internally threaded at its rearward end and counteroored to provide annular recesses 27 adapted for receiving the threaded end 28 of a tubular fitting 29, which integrally includes a diametrally enlarged nut portion 38 having an axially presented abutment annular face or shoulder 31. As will be seen by reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, the external surfaces of the nut portion 36 are cross-sectionally contoured to the shape of a somewhat symmetrical three-pointed star having arcuate side faces. In other words, the external faces of the nut portion 30 somewhat resemble an equilateral triangle in which the sides extending between the apices are circular arcs rather than straight lines.

Disposed in snug-fitting, seal-forming position within the recesses 27 and against the shoulder 31 is an O-ring 32. The threaded end 28 of the fitting is substantially shorter in axial length than the bore 3 and terminates a substantial distance rearwardly from the partition or wall 4. In the region between the wall 4 and the threaded end 28 of the fitting 29 the barrel 1 is provided with a uniformly spaced series of radial ports 33. Slidably mounted externally upon the rear portion of the barrel 1 is a valveforming sleeve 34 which fits snugly and slidably upon the barrel 1 and is internally undercut to provide two axially spaced narrow grooves 35, 36, and an intermediate relatively wide groove or channel 37. Fitted within the narrow grooves 35, 36, are O-rings 38, 39, which slidably, but, nevertheless, snugly engage the outer surfaces of the barrel 1 so as to provide seals for the groove or channel. This groove or channel 37 is axially wide enough so as to extend across the ports and 33 to establish communication therebetween, when the valve-forming sleeve 34 is axially shifted to its forwardmost position, as shown in FIG. 2. At its rearward end the valve-forming sleeve 34 is undercut to provide a groove 40 which defines an annular flange 41, the inner margins of which fit loosely around the rear portion of the barrel 1 and having a cross-sectional contour which is geometrically similar to, and slightly larger than, the cross-sectional contour of the external faces of the nut portion 30 so as to fit loosely therearound when the sleeve 34 is rotated into such position that the internal faces of the skirt or flange 41 are in axial registration with the surfaces of the nut portion 30 substantially as shown in FIG. 7. When in this position of axial registration, the sleeve 34 can be shifted axially rearwardly from the position shown in FIG. 2 to in FIG. 4. In this latter position, the O-ring 38 comes to rest upon the portion of the barrel 1 which lies between the ports 10 and 33 thereby preventing communication between the ports 33 and the ports 10. Moreover, the length of the sleeve 34 is such that when it is in rearwardly shifted position, as shown in FIG. 4, its forward end will clear the apertures 10 and leave them open to the ambient, so that any pressure which may be trapped within the bore 2 of the hose lines beyond will be relieved.

At its forward end, the valve-forming sleeve 34 is provided with diametrally enlarged annular abutments 42 which are disposed in endwise abutment against the rearwardly presented end face of the skirt 19 on the actuator sleeve 17. Thus, when the valve-forming sleeve 34 is in the position shown in FIG. 2, the actuator sleeve 17 cannot be shifted rearwardly unless the valve-forming sleeve 34 is also shifted rearwardly. Consequently, when the valve-forming sleeve 34 and the actuator sleeve 17 are in the forwardly shifted position, as shown in FIG. 2, the valve-forming sleeve 34 may be rotated from the position shown in FIG. 7 to the position shown in FIG. 6, and, therefore, cannot he accidentally shifted rearwardly. In fact, the valve-forming sleeve 34 can only be shifted rearwardly by being rotated to the position shown in FIG. 7, whereupon the sleeve 34 may be axially shifted in a rearward direction to the position shown in FIG. 4. In this latter position, the actuator sleeve 17 is unblocked, so to speak, and may be manually shifted rearwardly to the position shown in FIG. 8 and manually held in this latter position to permit insertion of a male coupler B, which integrally includes a tubular coupling stem 43 having a diametrally reduced nipple portion 44 adapted to project through the shoulder 7 and fit in seal-forming engagement within the O-ring 9. At the inner end of the nipple portion 44, the stem 43 is provided with an annular shoulder 45 having oppositely presented beveled faces 46, 47, the latter defining the fitted extremity of a retention-groove 48, the rearward end of which is defined by a beveled face 49. The locations of the beveled face 46 and the groove 48 are such that when the stem 43 is fully inserted within the bore 2 of the hose coupling A, the beveled face 46 will abut against the beveled face 6 so that the groove 48 will be aligned with the rest of the balls 13. Thus, when the actuator sleeve 17 is released and shifted forwardly between the spring 21, the balls 13 will be urged radially inwardly and will seat lockingly within the groove 48, holding the stem securely and tightly in coupled position, as shown in FIG. 9. It should also be noted that the nipple portion 44 is sufficiently short so that when the stem 43 is in coupled position, the nipple portion 44 will not overlie and block the ports 10. It will also be noted, by reference to FIG. 9, that the valve-forming sleeve is in rearwardly shifted or closed position at the moment of insertion of the male coupler B into the bore 2 of the hose coupling A, and, therefore, the connection can be easily and readily effected under conditions of non-pressure or, in other words, at atmospheric pressure. As soon as the connection has been effected, the valve-forming sleeve 34 can be shifted forwardly into the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, thereby establishing communication between the ports 10 and 33.

The fitting 29 is externally threaded for receiving a conventional sleeve-nut s by which a hose h may be attached thereto in the manner shown in FIG. 2.

When the hose h is conventionally connected to a source of air under pressure (not shown) and the valve-forming sleeve 34 is shifted to open position, as shown in FIG. 2, air under pressure will flow from the hose it through the bore 3, through the ports 33, and across the channel 37 and thence through the ports 10 and bore 2 into and through the male coupler B. As long as the male coupler B is in connected position and air under pressure is flowing through the hose coupling A in the manner just described, the actuator sleeve 17 cannot be shifted rearwardly to permit disconnection of the male coupler B until the valve-forming sleeve 34 has been shifted rearwardly to a closed position. Furthermore, as above pointed out, the valve-forming sleeve 34 cannot be shifted rearwardly to closed position until it is deliberately and intentionally rotated into a position of registration with the nut portion 30. Consequently, when the male coupler B i 3,127,149 in connected position and air under pressure is flowing from closed position to open position and from open posithrough the hose coupling A, the valve-forming sleeve 34 tion to closed position independently of the locking means, can be rotated to a position of non-registration such as said sleeve being in endwise abutment with the valvethat shown in FIG. 6. When this is done, the air flow forming means when the valve-forming means is in open cannot be accidentally shut otf and the male coupler B position so that, when in such open position, the valvecannot be removed while air under pressure is flowing forming means will prevent unlocking movement of the through the hose coupling A. locking means, and stop-forming means associated with If desired, a modified form of hose coupling A may be the barrel for optionally precluding unauthorized moveprovided as shown in FIG. 10. The hose coupling A ment of the valve-forming means from open to closed is substantially identical in all respe ts with the previously position. described hose coupling A, except that the modified form 3 A quick-acting hose coupling for receptive engage 0f fitting is used Whleh 13 Similar to the p y ment with a matin coupler element, said hose coupling described fitting 29 eXCePt that it is integrally provided at com risin a tubular barrel having two bores separated its rearward end with a tubular stem 50 having a series y an imperforate wall said bores being respectively in Of aXiahy Spaced annular fillies The Stem 50 may be 15 communication near their inner ends with the exterior Pushed hlto the her e of a Suitable Piece Of hose and of the barrel by means of fluid passages extending through cured by a conventional hose clamp 01 other conventional t 6 b l on ppgsife sides of d ll 1 f means (not shown means operatively mounted on the barrel and adapted for It should be understood that changes and mOdIfiCEtlOHS movement between two d fl'erent pgsifions one of said in the form, construction, arrangement, and combination positions b i an open i i fo bli hi 0f the several Parts Of the hose Couplings mely be made munication between said fluid passages on opposite sides and substtiuted for those herein shown and described of i n across h extenor of h b l h other Witheht deparhhg from the nah-Ire 311d prhlelple of my position being a closed position for interrupting cominvention. niunication between said fluid passages and at the same H i th d ibed my invention, what I c a m and ti e opening one fluid passage to ambient locking means d s to Secure y Letters Patent 153 operatively mounted on the barrel for retentively hold- A quick-acting hose coupling for recep ive engag i g the coupler element in retained engagement within ment With a mating Coupler element Sald hose couphhg one of said bores and being adapted, upon movement to comprising a tubular barrel having two bores separated by release said coupler element i l a mp f Well, Said bores being respectively in ing a sleeve separate from the valve-forming means wheremunication near their nner n s With e exterior of the by the valve-forming means can be operatiyely mounted on the barrel and adapted e means, said sleeve being in endwise abutment with the ment between WO diiierellt Positions one of sald PP valve-forming means when the valve-formin means is in tions being an open position for establishing commun1caopen i i so h he in such open position, the tion between Sa fl i passages on Opposite Sides f valve-forming means will prevent unlocking movement said wall across the exterior of th barf the other P9 of the locking means, and stop-forming means associated t being a Closed Position for interrupting eommhmca with the barrel for optionally precluding unauthorized tion between said fluid passages, locking means operatively 49 movement f h 1 -fo j means f Open to mounted on the barrel for retentively holding the coupler Closed i i element in retained engagement within one of said bores A quickacn'ng hose li f receptive engage a being adapted, p movement: to release Sald ment with a mating coupler element, said hose coupling pler element, said locking means including a sleeve sepacomprising a tubular barrel h i two bores Separated rate from the vaiv -f rm g means whereby the e 4 by an imperforate wall, said bores being respectively in forming means can be moved Optionally h 0111 Closed P communication near their inner ends with the exterior 1 to p POSlhOIl and hem P Poslhoh to Closed of the barrel by means of fluid passages extending through Peelhoh Independently of the locking means, Seld Sleeve t e barrel on opposite sides of said wall valve-formin when the va -f m g h is in p Ph so that, 59 able and rotative movement between two different posi- Wh n 111 Such p POSlhOh, the valve'folmlhg means will tions one of said positions being an open position for PTeVeht uhlocklhg movement of the loeklng means, e establishing communication between said fluid passages Stop-forming means asseelated Wlth the barrel for Ophoh' on opposite sides of said wall across the exterior of the any Preehldhlg uhahthbnzed movement 0f the Va1Ve"f0Fm barrel, the other position bein a closed position for ining means from open to closed position. I terriipting communication between said fluid passages,

A quick-acting hose Coupling for reeePiWe ehgagelocking means opeiatively mounted on the barrel for re m n h a Hlehhg Coupler element 381d hose eouphhg tentatively holding the coupler element in retained eneempllslhg a tubular barrel haylng two 6021x1211 bores gagement within one of said bores and being adapted separated by an lmpefforate Wall 831d bores helhg upon movement, to release said coupler element said speefiyely in communication hear their hlher ends with the 60 locking means including a sleeve separate from the valveexterior of the barrel by means of fluid passa es extendf mi g means h b h l i i means can 5 throhgh the barrel on pp sldes 0f Sald Well, he moved optionally fiom closed position to open posi- Vfl1Ve-f0fmihg means p y mounted 011 the barrel tion and from open position to closed position indeand adapted for movement between two different P pendently of the locking means, said sleeve being in end- UOIiS one f Said Positions being an p Position for wise abutment with the valve-formin means when the establishing communication between said fluid passages on valve-fonning means is in open position so that, when in pp sides of said Well across the extelfief of e bah such open position, the valve-forming means will prevent the other Position being a eloeed PP for Intel unlocking movem nt of the locking means, and stop-form p communication between Sald flbld Passages leeking means associated with the barrel for optionally prel'Ilg means operahyely mounted h the barrel for Ieteh' eluding unauthorized movement of the valve-forming within one of said bores and being adapted, upon move- 5. A quick-acting hose coupling for receptive engagement, to release said coupler element, said locking means ment with a mating coupler element, said hose coupling including a sleeve separate from the valve-forming means comprising a tubular barrel having two bores separated communication near their inner ends with the exterior of the barrel by means of fluid passages extending through the barrel on opposite sides of said wall, valve-forming means operatively mounted on the barrel for axially shiftable and rotative movement between two different positions one of said positions being an open position for establishing communication between said fluid passages on opposite sides of said wall across the exterior of the barrel, the other position being a closed position for interrupting communication between said fluid passages, locking means operatively mounted on the barrel for retentively holding the coupler element in retained engagement within one of said bores and being adapted, upon movement, to release said coupler element, said locking means including a sleeve separate from the valve-forming means whereby the valve-forming means can be moved optionally from closed position to open position and from open position torclosed position independently of the locking means, said sleeve being in endwise' abutment with the valveforming means when the v'alvedorming means is in open position so that, when in such open position, the valveforming means will prevent unlocking movement of the locking means, and stop-forming means associated with the barrel for optionally precluding unauthorized movement of the valve-forming means from open to closed position and means associated with the barrel and engageable with the valve-forming means when the latter is rotated away from a predetermined position so as to prevent axial shifting movement of the valve-forming means.

6. A quick-acting hose coupling according to claim 4 in which the valve-forming means is provided with an annular skirt which has an axially presented'non-circular opening substantially larger than the proximate portions of the barrel, and wherein the stop-forming means associated with the barrel is located on the closed position side of. the barrel with respect to the unpertorated wall, and wherein said stop-forming means includes means for optionally fitting axially within the non-circular opening of the annular skirt when the valve-forming means is rotated to an aligned position whereby it can be axially shifted into closed position and the skirt will be shifted into telescopic position over, and around said last-named means 7. A quick-acting hose coupling according to claim 4 in which the valve-forming means is provided with an annular skirt which has an axially presented hexagonal opening substantially larger than the proximate portions of the barrel, andwherein the stop-forming means associated with the barrel is located on the closed position side of the barrel with respect to the unperiorated wall and has a hexagonal peripheral contour of such size and shape as to fit telescopically within the hexagonal opening of the annular skirt when the valve-forming means is rotated to an aligned position whereby it can be axially shifted into closed position and the skirt will be shifted into telescopic position over and around said element.

8. A quick-acting hose coupling according to claim 4 in which the valve-forming means is provided with an annular skirt which has an axially presented three-lobed annular opening substantially larger than the proximate portions of the barrel, and wherein the stop-forming means associated with the barrel is located on the closed position side of the barrel with respect to the unperforated wall, and a three-lobed annular peripheral contour of such size and shape as to fit telescopically within the three-lobed annular opening of the annular skirt when the valve-forming means is rotated to an aligned position whereby it can be axially shifted into closed position and the skirt will be shifted into telescopic position over and around said element. v

9. A quick-acting hose coupling according to claim 1 in which the locking means is resiliently biased into position for retention of the coupler element.

10. A quick-acting hose coupling according to claim 1 in which the barrel has an external abutment; the locking means has an annular skirt, the interior surface of which is spaced outwardly from the barrel and abutment; and wherein a spring is operatively mounted Within the skirt so as to bias the locking means axially away from the abutment into position for retention of the coupler element.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATESV'PATENTS 4,419 Clarke Mar. 14, 1846 1,850,879 Hunt Mar. 22, 1932 1,944,739 Hunt Jan. 23, 1934 2,509,671 Christensen May 30, 1950 3,106,378 Hellstern Oct. 8, 1963 FOREIGN PATENTS 724,366 Great Britain Feb. 16, 1955 1,067,517 France Ian. 27, 1954 

1. A QUICK-ACTING HOSE COUPLING FOR RECEPTIVE ENGAGEMENT WITH A MATING COUPLER ELEMENT, SAID HOSE COUPLING COMPRISING A TUBULAR BARREL HAVING TWO BORES SEPARATED BY AN IMPERFORATE WALL, SAID BORES BEING RESPECTIVELY IN COMMUNICATION NEAR THEIR INNER ENDS WITH THE EXTERIOR OF THE BARREL BY MEANS OF FLUID PASSAGES EXTENDING THROUGH THE BARREL ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID WALL, VALVE-FORMING MEANS OPERATIVELY MOUNTED ON THE BARREL AND ADAPTED FOR MOVEMENT BETWEEN TWO DIFFERENT POSITIONS ONE OF SAID POSITIONS BEING AN OPEN POSITION FOR ESTABLISHING COMMUNICATION BETWEEN SAID FLUID PASSAGES ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID WALL ACROSS THE EXTERIOR OF THE BARREL, THE OTHER POSITION BEING A CLOSED POSITION FOR INTERRUPTING COMMUNICATION BETWEEN SAID FLUID PASSAGES, LOCKING MEANS OPERATIVELY MOUNTED ON THE BARREL FOR RETENTIVELY HOLDING THE COUPLER ELEMENT IN RETAINED ENGAGEMENT WITHIN ONE OF SAID BORES AND BEING ADAPTED, UPON MOVEMENT, TO RELEASE SAID COUPLER ELEMENT, SAID LOCKING MEANS INCLUDING A SLEEVE SEPARATE FROM THE VALVE-FORMING MEANS WHEREBY THE VALVEFORMING MEANS CAN BE MOVED OPTIONALLY FROM CLOSED POSITION TO OPEN POSITION AND FROM OPEN POSITION TO CLOSED POSITION INDEPENDENTLY OF THE LOCKING MEANS, SAID SLEEVE BEING IN ENDWISE ABUTMENT WITH THE VALVE-FORMING MEANS WHEN THE VALVE-FORMING MEANS IS IN OPEN POSITION SO THAT, WHEN IN SUCH OPEN POSITION, THE VALVE-FORMING MEANS WILL PREVENT UNLOCKING MOVEMENT OF THE LOCKING MEANS, AND STOP-FORMING MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH THE BARREL FOR OPTIONALLY PRECLUDING UNAUTHORIZED MOVEMENT OF THE VALVE-FORMING MEANS FROM OPEN TO CLOSED POSITION. 